After winning the 2023 Migdal State Cup against Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Jerusalem has done it again. In the first official trophy of the season, the red-and-white side captured the Israeli Winner Cup by beating the EuroLeague participant 79-71.

Being named MVP in last year’s Israeli State Cup, Speedy Smith was once again a determinant asset for his team with 21 points and 4/7 from downtown. Zach Hankins went close to a double-double with 13 points and 9 rebounds, while Levi Randolph scored 17 points for Aleksandar Dzikic’s squad.

On the other side, Maccabi Tel Aviv struggled a lot both from beyond the arc (5/24, 21.0%) and at the line by missing six free throws (12/18). In the loss, Lorenzo Brown ended with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists for the yellow-and-blue team.

בואו, עולים להניף pic.twitter.com/BGoeY3netH

— Hapoel Jerusalem BC (@JerusalemBasket) October 1, 2023

PHOTO CREDIT: Basketball Champions League

The post Hapoel Jerusalem took down Maccabi Tel Aviv to win the Israeli Winner Cup appeared first on Eurohoops.

Pushing late in the game to come back with a 25-7 run in the fourth quarter, Zalgiris Kaunas managed to beat Pieno Žvaigždės 78-68 with a great performance by Laurynas Birutis, who came off the bench for a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds.

The green-and-white side, which will begin the EuroLeague season on the road against Virtus Bologna on Thursday, had 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists from the newcomer Nazareth Mitrou-Long. The 24-year-old Danielius Lavrinovičius scored 16 points in 14:49 minutes on the court. On the losing side, instead, Brandon Tabb provided 26 points and 5 steals.

With this victory, Zalgiris Kaunas remains unbeaten in the 2023-24 LKL so far next to BC Wolves, which beat BC Mazeikiai 84-74 on Saturday with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists from the 2023 FIBA World Cup Latvian sensation Arturs Zagars.

16 minutes = double-double! pic.twitter.com/vHVcrA6R0t

— BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) October 1, 2023

PHOTO CREDIT: Zalgiris Kaunas

The post Zalgiris Kaunas beat Pieno Žvaigždės with a late effort appeared first on Eurohoops.

It seems that controversy involving referees is always present in European basketball, no matter the level of the league.

Liege announced that they canceled the game versus Antwerp on October 28, 2023, for the BNXT, protesting about the refereeing criteria on the games. Per Liege, the calls favor native players against import players, and as a result in the BNXT playoffs, three import players of Liege fouled out in the same game.

The club believes that this trend is still ongoing, having so far a 1-1 record in the league, and issued the following press release which includes strong language.

This is short-sighted and theft by referees

Players’ performance requires them to be on the floor to contribute for which they are evaluated for next year. Excessive fouls diminish their ability to perform, deny them future income, and deny the government in all countries the corresponding tax revenue. Referees that are supposed to be neutral are disrupting the livelihood of the players and denying countries incremental tax revenue. It is unacceptable and uncalled for.

Liege decision to protest in the game against Antwerp is not coincidental. Antwerp was very vocal about US owner Ernie Cambo coming to bail out Liege of certain bankruptcy and filed multiple complaints against the team and his organization.

Cambo funds the team through a United States non-profit organization called Miami East Side Sports that helps men secure scholarships and jobs in basketball in the US and abroad. So far over 300 players have received scholarships through this program.

The post Liege forfeits in protest upcoming game versus Antwerp for BNXT appeared first on Eurohoops.

Maccabi Tel Aviv will have the chance to play against Hapoel Jerusalem in the Israeli Winner Cup final without even giving a semifinal game.

To be exact Hapoel Tel Aviv forfeited the semifinal after the police have taken the decision to scan every fan’s ID number before they can attend the match for security concerns, leading to huge queues outside the venue.

Hapoel Tel Aviv wrote the following message on their social media accounts.

“Sports fans – not criminals!

Starting in the morning we began to receive messages from which we understood that the Israeli police treated tonight’s game as a war event in which the fans included, from the age of eight to eighty, women, and children – all of them were potential criminals.

In light of the attitude in which the audience was treated at the entrance to the hall, we decided that there was no point in going up to play tonight.

The sport belongs to the fans!”

After this decision, Hapoel Tel Aviv may face a fine of up to 100.00 euros.

The post Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Winner Cup final by forfeit of Hapoel Tel Aviv appeared first on Eurohoops.

Starting the new Betsafe LKL Regular Season, defending champion Zalgiris made short work of Gargzdai en route to the 107-55 victory in Svyturio Arena Sunday.

Brady Manek dominated the second half and finished with a game-high 23 points in his debut as a player of the Kaunas outfit. The 25-year-old forward sank seven of his nine attempts from beyond the arc, highlighting the team total of 15/28.

Arnas Butkevicius had 14 points. Team captain Edgaras Ulanovas made 5/8 field goals to follow with 13 points in the season opener. Laurynas Birutis chipped in four points, eight rebounds, three assists, and one steal.

In his first official action since early January, recovering from a torn Achilles, Keenan Evans registered ten points with 4/8 from the field. The former Texas Tech standout also dished out four assists lasting just over 16 minutes.

On a quick turnaround from participating in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Ignas Brazdeikis, Tomas Dimsa, and Rolands Smits all missed the first game of the 2023-24 season at the club level.

The team coached by Kazys Maksvytis is set for additional preparation games next weekend in Cyprus and will follow up with two more domestic contests before Round 1 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season. Visiting Virtus Segafredo Bologna will open the continental campaign on October 5.

Launching the 2023-24 Regular Season of Lithuania’s top-tier division on Saturday, Neptunas beat 7bet-Lietkabelis, 91-81, with Sterling Gibbs dropping 26 points. Protecting home court as well, CBet topped Nevezis-Optibet, 94-77.

Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net

Read the latest News

The post Zalgiris opens the season with a 52-point win appeared first on Eurohoops.

Former international basketball player Ludovic Vaty, who had to interrupt his high-level career in 2013 due to cardiovascular disease, is dead, announced the French Basketball Federation on Friday.

“It is with deep sadness that the players of the French team and his staff learned of the death of Ludovic Vaty on Thursday, at the age of 34,” said the FFBB in a press release.

The big man with nine selections with the Blues had been placed in a coma after a heart attack which occurred on Tuesday during training with his amateur club TOAC Toulouse (N2, fourth division).

“Like all the rest of the France group, I was particularly shocked to learn this terrible news. Ludovic, with Nicolas Batum, was an essential player within a generation 88-89 which marked the history of basketball French”, comments the president of the Federation Jean-Pierre Siutat, quoted in the press release.

Former interior of Gravelines, Ludovic Vaty had been stopped in full ascent, being forced to stop his career as a high-level basketball player at the age of 24 due to a heart condition. He had previously had nine selections with the France team in 2012 and was then coming out of his most successful season with the BCM (11 points and 6.3 rebounds on average). The Guadeloupean, also passed by Pau-Orthez and Orléans, was voted best player of the Leaders Cup in February 2013.

The serious heart attack affected the Blues, who are competing in Jakarta for the World Cup, and particularly captain Nicolas Batum, born the same year (1988) and who played with him in the French youth teams, notably winning a bronze medal during of the U19 World Cup in 2007.

“It was very complicated to play. I was not mentally fit, not 100% concentrated. You think of his mother, his children. We have been through so many things. Ludo is the brother, our rock, our pivot with golden hands. If he hadn’t had this problem, he should have had a great career ,” Batum said after the victory against Iran (82-55).

The post Ludovic Vaty died at 34 of cardiac arrest appeared first on Eurohoops.

China has emerged since the Stephon Marbury era (2010-18) as an alternative and ideal destination for several notable players. There are plenty of examples. Noah Vonleh, Yogi Ferrell, and Marcus Foster joined them.

For Noah Vonleh of 362 NBA games, the selection is quite familiar, since not only has he been a CBAer again, he has returned to the Shanghai Sharks (2021-22). The 28-year-old American power forward was a target of Panathinaikos before signing Olek Balcerowski. He will be joined by Yogi Ferrell of 259 games in the NBA. The former player of Panathinaikos (2021) and Cedevita then (2021-23) will be in China for the first time.

Close by is also former “green” Marcus Foster (2020-21) and former player of Prometheus (2022) and Ritas Vilnius until recently (2022-23), who signed for Sandnong Hi-Speed ​​Kirin.

The post Noah Vonleh, Yogi Ferrell and Marcus Foster heading to China appeared first on Eurohoops.

The report about an investigation by the BBL into the ownership of the London Lions is denied by the 777 Partners, the financial entity that owns the club and also 45% of the British Basketball League (BBL).

Per their response: “777 Partners can categorically confirm that there is no investigation into its ownership of the London Lions and that these rumors are completely unfounded”.

Moreover, the BBL itself denied the allegations as well, explaining to Eurohoops it was a routine check.

“The British Basketball League’s Board of Directors, as part of their fiduciary duties to the league, regularly review the health of its clubs. We don’t comment on specific reviews, but we would like to make clear in this instance that Stuart Hodge’s reporting of an investigation is wholly incorrect. A review of any one, or several clubs, is not extraordinary and is a measure in place to safeguard the financial sustainability of the league and its clubs, and ensure that the league and clubs are in a great position to meet their aspirations of growth”, BBL’s statement to Eurohoops clarifies, without denying that a review might have been conducted.

It all started with an article that appeared in the Norwegian magazine Josimar Football which revealed allegations against the 777 Partners Group, owners of several football clubs around the world and of the BKT EuroCup and BBL basketball club London Lions.

Per Scottish journalist Stuart Hodge, the British Basketball League is reportedly conducting an investigation to ascertain whether the London Lions’ owners, who own both the club and 45% of the whole league itself, are actually fit to run the club, a report which is denied.

Following Josimar’s article, 777 Partners claimed that the allegations, which stated their companies were involved in kidnapping, predatory lending, and fraud as well as detailing drug charges which were brought against 777 founder Josh Wander, are “inaccurate and defamatory”.

Moreover, Stuart Hodge published on its X’s thread what an anonymous BBL team’s owner told him about this. “The British Basketball League community is filled with children and young, sometimes vulnerable, people. It’s paramount that they feel safe and the BBL’s investigation into 777’s ownership of the Lions is a necessary step in ensuring that safety”, is written.

“The allegations which have sprung to light are massively concerning and we have to be sure that the league’s clubs are being run by individuals and groups who understand their responsibility to those communities, and to ensure the necessary safeguards are in place”, was also stated.

EXCLUSIVE

Multiple sources tell me @LondonLions are being investigated by @BBLofficial to ascertain whether owners, 777 Partners, are fit to run the club.

It comes after an explosive article in @JosimarFotball filled with alarming and, frankly, astonishing allegations.

— Stuart Hodge (@Hodgeythehack) August 11, 2023

Both BBL and 777 Partners denied the investigation

However, 777 Partners deny that there’s any kind of ongoing investigation with the following press release.

“777 Partners can categorically confirm that there is no investigation into its ownership of the London Lions, and that these rumors are completely unfounded. We have a brilliant working relationship with the British Basketball League and both parties share the same objective in terms of bringing the sport to new heights in the UK. Our commitment to this mission is unwavering, having invested more into the sport than anyone else in its history, amounting to tens of millions of pounds. This financing has seen the dawn of a new era for British basketball, with record crowds descending upon BBL and WBBL games and The Lions becoming the first-ever British side to qualify for the playoff rounds of the EuroCup”.

“777 serves as the only funding partner investing millions into women’s basketball in the UK, and is proud to support a side that is now positioned as one of the most dominant teams in British sport, having recorded back-to-back domestic clean sweeps and going on an unprecedented 52-game unbeaten streak. This momentum is now continuing into the new season, with the Lions becoming the first-ever British team to take part in qualifiers for the EuroLeague, further helping to put UK basketball on the map”.

“We are not only fully committed to the Lions as a club but also investing in the communities in which it resides. From delivering a vibrant new basketball court to a community in London’s worst-hit borough for child poverty and providing various grassroots coaching activations across the capital, to creating a never-before-seen youth team structure and allowing aspiring coaches to pursue a career in the sport, our commitment to having an impact on and off the court is unwavering. We are working tirelessly alongside the BBL on implementing an infrastructure which safeguards the longevity and success of the sport in the UK and is now extremely excited for the 2023/24 season, continuing to break records on the domestic and European stages”.

PHOTO CREDIT: BBL

Read all the latest news from the basketball world

The post 777 Partners and BBL deny the reported investigation on London Lions appeared first on Eurohoops.

While his 30-year-old brother Kevin Punter has established himself as one of the purest offensive specialists in the EuroLeague, the 24-year-old Kieffer Punter recently moved overseas to sign his first professional contract with Promo, a Bosnian Premier League team.

Interviewed by Meridian Sport, he had nothing but great words for his brother. “Kevin has had a huge impact on my life’s journey. I don’t get to this point without him. Kevin laid the foundation and building blocks for my success, so I am blessed and privileged to be able to follow in his footsteps”, Kieffer Punter first said.

“I am very aware that it is very popular. I am proud of him and glad that people recognize his talent. He deserves it, because he works hard and loves Serbia, so this is a perfect match”, he went on praising his brother.

“If I ever had the chance to play with my brother it would be amazing, but right now my eyes aren’t really set on that. I am focused on being part of a new team and getting better year after year. If there is an opportunity to play with Kevin on the same team, that would be great”, he then added about a potential reunion on the court with his brother Kevin.

In his two years at Partizan, Kevin Punter rapidly became the idol of the black-and-white world. “I’ve never had the chance to watch him in Belgrade. But from what I hear, that is an amazing place for basketball and I’m definitely looking forward to being able to see my brother live in front of those amazing Partizan fans”, his brother added about the Serbian capital.

Spending three years in the NCAA with Troy University, he averaged 8.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, shooting 35.7% from the field and 80.6% at the charity stripe. His brother Kevin, instead, who will enter his third season in Partizan, had 16.1 points per game in last year’s EuroLeague.

PHOTO CREDIT: Meridian Sport

Read all the latest news from the basketball world

The post Kieffer Punter on his brother Kevin: “I don’t get to this point without him” appeared first on Eurohoops.

Until now, the NBL was importing European prospects which considered Australia an alternate way to make it to the NBA draft, but Lassi Tuovi can make history as the first coach in Europe who gets appointed in the Australian league.

The Sydney Kings completed a great season in the Australian NBL, as they managed to conquer their fifth championship title (and second in a row). However, they are still looking to appoint the next head coach that will have the task to keep them on top of the league, as the contract of Chase Bufford was not extended.

According to sources, the board of the Kings has interviewed a few American coaches, mainly with G-league experience, but in their list, there is also one European candidate.

The Finnish national team coach Lassi Tuovi, who despite his young age has led his country to its biggest success in last year’s Eurobasket and is preparing for the World Cup, after being the first team in Europe to secure qualification.

Sydney which has already signed American forward DJ Hogg as the club’s first import for next season, will reach a final decision in the next few days.

The post Coach Lassi Tuovi among the top candidates to lead the Sydney Kings appeared first on Eurohoops.

By Can Bedel /  info@eurohoops.net

The 2022-23 European basketball season is now approaching its thrilling final stretch. While champions have been determined in some leagues, others have entered the final series.

Amidst intense competition and fierce battles throughout the season, individual players have emerged as shining stars, delivering remarkable performances and even shattering records, leaving a lasting impact on their respective teams and the league as a whole.

Eurohoops brings you a look at individual season records in European domestic leagues, highlighting the remarkable achievements in a total of 16 categories. From scoring to rebounds, assists to blocks, we present the record holders and the notable names who secured the 2nd and 3rd positions, showcasing their exceptional performances on the court.

Efficiency Score

51 – Kyle Vinales (GTK Gliwice – Legia Warszawa)
Stats: 49 points – 3 rebounds – 8 assists.

Kyle Vinales, who competed for Legia Warszawa in the Polish League, delivered the most impressive performance of the European season. The 30-year-old American player, after starting the season with Nancy in France, joined Legia Warszawa and showcased his exceptional skills during a remarkable outing against GTK Gliwice, earning him the top spot on this list.

47 – Gerry Blakes (Legia Warszawa-MKS Dąbrowa Górnicza)
Stats: 51 points – 4 rebounds – 6 assists

46 – Mangok Mathiang (Hapoel Eilat-Hapoel Holon)
Stats: 22 points – 24 rebounds – 2 assists – 5 blocks – 1 steal

The post Domestic Leagues Individual Records for the 2022-23 season in Europe appeared first on Eurohoops.

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s dominance in Israel keeps on being a thing, as the yellow-and-blue side managed to beat the city rivals of Hapoel in the Winner League Finals, getting the 56th Super League in the club’s history. After losing Game 2 on an eventful night, Oded Kattash’s team got its revenge in Game 3, beating the EuroCup participants 94-90.

The Lorenzo Brown-Wade Baldwin duo was on fire even in the last game of their first season together in Tel Aviv, scoring 22 points each and combining for 15 assists. Furthermore, the former Bayern Munich and Baskonia guard was named the Winner League Finals MVP.

In order to seek the decisive victory in the best-of-three series, both Roman Sorkin and Bonzie Colson went close to double-doubles. The former with 13 points and 9 rebounds, the latter with 9 points and 9 rebounds.

On Hapoel’s losing side, Xavier Munford was once again one of the protagonists, scoring 13 points with 6/7 at the free throw line. However, the highest scorer on the team was J’Covan Brown, who exploded for a losing effort of 31 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists.

Winner League Finals Results and Schedule

Maccabi Tel Aviv – Hapoel Tel Aviv, G1: 90-79
Hapoel Tel Aviv – Maccabi Tel Aviv, G2: 112-74
Maccabi Tel Aviv – Hapoel Tel Aviv, G3: 94-90

Read all the latest news from the basketball world

The post Maccabi Tel Aviv beat Hapoel to capture its 56th Israeli League appeared first on Eurohoops.

Crazy night in Tel Aviv, where the Game 2 Derby in the Israeli Super League Finals was delayed due to the flames erupting from the Hapoel’s fanbase area, which created so much smoke inside the arena that both teams had to come back into the locker rooms.

Once the game started, the home side imposed its domination over Maccabi Tel Aviv, crushing the eternal enemies 112-74 and tying the Winner League Finals series 1-1. Xavier Munford was the hero of the game for Hapoel, ending as the highest scorer with 26 points and 6/8 from beyond the arc.

Jordan McRae added 21 points, while both Chinanu Onuaku and J’Covan Brown went both really close to a double-double with 9 points and 10 rebounds, and 11 points and 9 assists. On Maccabi’s end, Wade Baldwin IV led the way with 18 points and 5 assists, followed by Bonzie Colson’s 17 points.

“I’m very saddened by the sight of the opening of the derby, this thing cannot continue and I will act in every way to stop this phenomenon. I’m calling for harsher punishments for the rioters who ruin our sport”, Israeli’s league charmain Ari Shteinberg commented following the incidents before the tipoff. As appears, objects were also thrown into the court from the stands, hitting players on both sides.

After Maccabi’s win in Game 1 and Hapoel’s victory in Game 2, the decisive Game 3 is now scheduled on June 13 at 21:00 CET. In their International seasons, Maccabi Tel Aviv was eliminated in the EuroLeague Playoffs by AS Monaco, which won 3-2; Hapoel Tel Aviv, instead, lost against Joventut Badalona in the 7DAYS EuroCup Quarter-Finals.

PHOTO CREDIT: 7DAYS EuroCup

The post Hapoel Tel Aviv crushed Maccabi in an eventful Game 2 appeared first on Eurohoops.

Crvena Zvezda won jet another Serbian championship today after defeating FMP Zeleznik in the final series 2-0. Dusko Ivanovic’s squad got the job done today in game 2 after a big push early in the fourth quarter for a convincing 82-72 win.

This was Zvezda’s 23rd Serbian championship and eighth in a row.

Luka Mitrovic was the finals MVP, in game 2 he recorded 16 points and six rebounds.

Besides Zvezda winning a championship, the biggest story is Partizan’s absence. The eternal rivals of Crvena Zvezda did not play in this year’s edition of the Serbian league due to an administration error. As the league announced, Partizan did not register their players on time for the playoffs.

The two teams will, however, face each other in the ABA League finales which are set to start on Tuesday in a best-of-five series.

The post Crvena Zvezda wins Serbian championship eighth season in a row appeared first on Eurohoops.

Prevailing in the exciting do-or-die Game 5, Zalgiris used a strong finish to prevail, 97-87, versus Rytas and win Lithuania’s top-flight division Saturday.

Earning the homecourt advantage through finishing first in the Betsafe LKL Regular Season, Zalgiris got a third win in Kaunas, thus the 24th LKL championship in league history, despite losing twice in Vilnius. The attendance announced was 14,077 with visiting Rytas supporters adding to the total.

The first two Finals showings in Zalgirio Arena saw the hosts getting separation in the third quarter. In contrast, the last part of the best-of-five championship series went down the wire with an 11-0 finishing run deciding the winner. The defending champions led 87-86 before the 11 unanswered points down the stretch.

Complementing a hot finish to the 2022-23 campaign with yet another season-high, Isaiah Taylor stood out with 32 points, including 13 in the last ten minutes. Facing his former team, Arnas Butkevicius followed with 16 points. Rolands Smits and Ignas Brazdeikis threw in 11 points each. Keenan Evans (Achilles) and Achille Polonara (thigh) expectedly stayed on the injury list for the team coached by Kazys Maksvytis to end the season.

Silencing the soldout crowd for large chunks of the back-and-forth affair, the team coached by Giedrius Zibenas fell narrowly shy of a back-to-back domestic league championship. Kendale McCullum produced a team-high 20 points and Marcus Foster had 17 points. Sidelined for over two months, Martynas Echodas (shoulder) was the lone unavailable player.

Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net

Read the latest News

The post Zalgiris edges out Rytas to win Lithuania’s league appeared first on Eurohoops.

Luka Mitrovic scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds as Crvena Zvezda beat FMP 94 – 70 in Game 1 of the Serbian League Finals best-of-three series.

Nemanja Nedovic dropped 13 points for Zvezda and Filip Petrusev had 11 points plus five rebounds. Facu Campazzo contributed 10 points, five assists and three steals to Red Star’s win that arrived on the back of a powerful first-half performance.

Zvezda opened the game with a dynamic 29 – 16 entrance and then closed halftime up 53  -28. FMP didn’t manage to bring that deficit below 20 as the quality difference between the two sides was obvious on the floor.

Ebuka Izundu (11 points) and Ranko Simovic (10 points) scored in double figures from FMP.

The post Crvena Zvezda one win away from Serbian League title appeared first on Eurohoops.

Last season Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv stopped in the Israeli Winner League semifinals, but this time made it to the finals and opened the championship series with a statement 90-79 win over Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv.

Oded Kattash’s side had five players in double digits, with Wade Baldwin leading the way just an assist shy of a double-double with 14 points.

Lorenzo Brown had 13 points and seven assists, Jake Cohen also scored 13, but with five rebounds and assists, while Bonzie Colson also finished with 13 and six boards. Alex Poythress added 10 points for the winning side.

Jordan McRae stood out for Hapoel with 18 points, while Tomer Ginat and Jaylen Hoard both scored 10.

Hapoel gave an excellent fight to the host in the first half, returning twice after being down in double figures. Still, Maccabi continued pushing and finally broke the rival’s resistance in the third period. It was all over after Katash’s team gained a 79-58 lead in the opening minutes of the decisive quarter.

Game 2 of the Israeli finals best-of-three series is scheduled for Sunday, June 11, at 20.15 CET, but this time Hapoel will be the host in a do-or-die game.

Israeli finals:

Game 1: Maccabi Tel Aviv – Hapoel Tel Aviv 90-79
Game 2: Hapoel Tel Aviv – Maccabi Tel Aviv (11/06)
* Game 3: Maccabi Tel Aviv – Hapoel Tel Aviv

* – if neccecery

The post Maccabi wins the Tel Aviv derby to take the lead in the Israeli finals appeared first on Eurohoops.

Rytas Vilnius defeated Zalgiris Kaunas 69-68 in Game 4 of the Betsafe-LKL finals, thanks to Marcus Foster’s layup with less than two seconds on the clock, and tied the series to 2-2, sending it to do-or-die Game 5, scheduled for Saturday at 16.00 CET in Zalgirio Arena.

Jaime Echenique was the top scorer of the winning side with 18 points, while Rytas’ hero Foster finished the match with 16 points and eight assists. Evaldas Kairys added 11 points.

As for Zalgiris, Isaiah Taylor had 14 points, Ignas Brazdeikis scored 13, and Arnas Butkevicius finished with a double-double of 11 points and ten rebounds.

Zalgiris was in control during the first half, gaining an early 12-point lead in the opening quarter and maintaining a double-digit surplus for most of the second period, having a 40-32 lead at the break.

Rytas pushed hard in the third period and came within just two points, but the guests repelled the hosts’ push and entered the decisive 10 minutes with a 50-45 lead. It was an actual battle in the final quarter, and Foster’s layup with 1,9 seconds on the clock gave Rytas the lead and eventual victory.

LKL finals

Game 1: Zalgiris – Rytas 108-93
Game 2: Rytas – Zalgiris 94-71
Game 3: Zalgiris – Rytas 95-80
Game 4: Rytas – Zalgiris 69-68
Game 5: June 10, 16.00 CET

The post Marcus Foster takes down Zalgiris and sends LKL finals to do-or-die Game 5 appeared first on Eurohoops.

After a legendary career on all levels, Pau Gasol is now continuing to build his business brand.

The Spanish legend announced a new website named “Gasol16 Ventures”.

It is the strategic vehicle that brings together all of Pau Gasol’s business activity. As stated, they seek to maximize the impact of those initiatives that want to make a difference, and they will do so by identifying projects with great growth capacity and making the experience and network of Pau Gasol and the rest of the Gasol16 team available.

“Pleased to present Gasol16 Ventures, a strategic vehicle that brings together all the entrepreneurial activity that I have been developing for years”, Gasol wrote on his Twitter account.

Pleased to present Gasol16 Ventures, a strategic vehicle that brings together all the entrepreneurial activity that I have been developing for years. You can learn more about Gasol16 Ventures in our website: https://t.co/1zudDIVX2o pic.twitter.com/IzIT8oM0K2

— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) June 7, 2023

The post Pau Gasol presents Gasol16 Ventures appeared first on Eurohoops.

With an impressive showing on offense, Zalgiris Kaunas managed to take once again the lead in the LKL Finals series against the reigning champions of Rytas Vilnius. The team’s captain Edgaras Ulanovas was the green-and-white highest scorer with 18 points.

Without Achille Polonara, who has already ended the season and his adventure with Zalgiris Kaunas, Rolands Smits played a bigger amount of minutes, ending with 11 points and 8 rebounds. The other mid-season addition Isaiah Taylor went close to a double-double with 17 points and 9 assists. Ignas Bradzeikis added 15 points with 4/6 from beyond the arc, all in the 1st quarter.

After a pretty balanced first half (47-42), Zalgiris Kaunas ended the third quarter with a 27-16 run, up by 16 points (74-58) and from then on never lost control of the game, going up 2-1 in the series. On the losing side, the usual Marcus Foster-Elvar Fridriksson duo combined for 13 points each. Coming off the bench, the Colombian center Jaime Echenique ended the game with 12 points.

In the first two games of this LKL Finals series, after respectively beating Lietkabelis and Jonava in the Semifinals, Zalgiris Kaunas and Rytas Vilnius shared victories. The EuroLeague side took the 1-0 lead winning 108-93 at home to open the series, while the eternal enemies tied things up with the 94-71 win in the Lithuanian capital in Game 2.

LKL Finals schedule and results

Zalgiris Kaunas – Rytas Vilnius, G1: 108-93
Rytas Vilnius – Zalgiris Kaunas, G2: 94-71
Zalgiris Kaunas – Rytas Vilnius, G3: 95-80
Rytas Vilnius – Zalgiris Kaunas, G4 (08/06 at 17:30 CET)

PHOTO CREDIT: BC Zalgiris Kaunas

The post Zalgiris Kaunas took the 2-1 lead against Rytas Vilnius appeared first on Eurohoops.